Is It Time To “Cut-The-Cord” On Your Landline Telephone?

That question was asked within a group I am a member of, which obviously got some reaction.

As I thought about it some more, I think some things should be considered. I still have a landline telephone for my business, but not for personal use, but is it time to update my business?

The answer to that question probably depends on your business and how you conduct business.

There are two ways to get away from a landline telephone. The first is to disconnect it, but the better option is to keep your number and use a service to redirect your calls to your VoIP (Voice Over IP) or cell phone number.

Here Are Four Things To Consider Before You Disconnect Your Landline Telephone

First, Cel Phones Are Not Considered Business Phones By Most Telecommunication Companies.

That means you don’t get a “Business Listing” if you use your personal cell phone, and your business will not be found in the Yellow Pages.  That may not be a big deal because few people even pick up a printed yellow page, and people do not call “Information” for a telephone number like they did 20 years ago.  Just remember, you will have less visibility if you have a local business and you use a personal cell number. There are some ways to work around that. You should check with your cell phone provider if you get a business cell phone to see how (or if) you are listed as a business.

Second, Google My Business probably has your listing tied to a landline telephone.

If you already have your listing verified with Google, you can change it easily.  If you have never confirmed your business, it can be challenging to get everything updated.   If you have not verified your business with Google, do so now.

Third, Your Phone Number Is In Hundreds Of Places On The Internet

The online Yellow Pages is not the only place your phone number can be found.   Enter your business name, followed by City and State, and you will be surprised at the sites that have your information. The last thing you want for your business is for someone to search for you and find an outdated listing for your business and call a number getting a message: The number you called is no longer working. You will need to update as many of those as you can.

Fourth, Cell Phone Quality Can Be An Issue

It is surprising that with the technology we have today, many people experience dropped calls or low bars and difficulty making calls.  Trying to “close a deal” can be challenging if the person on the other end of the line can not hear you.

Several years ago, I had a new roof put on our house.  As part of the service, the contractor put a coating under the plywood to help with energy efficiency.  It worked wonders, but it also harmed the cell service. Calls are spotty at my home, even after adding a repeater devised.

None of these may be an issue for you and your business. But you should be aware and consider the pitfalls of making a significant change to how people contact your business.

Today, many services allow you to forward your number directly to a cell phone or to a VoIP number. . That is seamless, and your customer will never know the difference. That is probably the best option for most businesses.  You will still have to pay for that phone number, and it will generally still be listed as a business with your phone carrier. Just be sure that whatever service you use, you keep your existing phone number and that you “own it.” Don’t ever go with a service that provides you a number you don’t own. If you do, you will be locked into them forever.

What you don’t want to do is just disconnect the landline without thinking through the process.

If you think it is time to get read of your landline telephone, consider keeping the number alive as long as you can.  If your carrier allows you to just convert your same number to a cell number, you are in luck. Just be sure to keep it as a “business line.”

If you have to give it up, ask your provider for a service that just rings to a voice mail where you can tailor your own greeting that the number has changed. And keep it alive for a year or until you have adjusted your business number everywhere.

Avoid having the phone company put their generic message that the number has been disconnected. And remember that the phone company will only do that for a couple of months.

Again, you what to avoid potential customers from reaching a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service.

More on Landline Telephones For Business.